Made in North Somerset festival

This afternoon we're taking part in the Made in North Somerset open doors event, so if you'd like to see how local hand-made furniture is created then now's your chance!

Chat to the Chelvey Designer Makers (including Jim Sharples Furniture and Rohan Scadding Design) and see what processes are involved, from designing, timber selection, machining and jointing through to finishing and completed pieces.

Feel free to pop down to the workshop at Brickyard Wood Barns between 2pm and 4pm. We look forward to seeing you!

Address:
Brockley Lane
Chelvey
Backwell
Bristol
BS48 4AB

We will also have an open workshop on Saturday 6th October as part of Made in North Somerset.

Busy times! An update of recent work

The last couple of months have been pretty busy here at the Brickyard workshop! Here are some of the projects that have been leaving the bench recently...

Alcove shelving and cupboards

Multimedia TV wall, with hidden cupboards and drawers on soft-closing runners. This project was complex and involved working closely with audio-visual installation engineers in order to meet the client's specifications.

Kitchen alcove storage

If you'd like to see more pictures of thes projects please visit the "fitted furniture" section of the gallery  at the Jim Sharples Furniture website.

Solid oak fitted alcove cupboard and shelves

These solid oak shelves and cupboard where fitted for clients in Bishopston, Bristol.

here is the family at the top of Strumble head, west Wales. Just had a fantastic week in a holiday cottage.

The new Stihl MS880 chainsaw

The video below is from a couple of weeks ago, and shows me using my new Stihl MS880 chainsaw for the first time...  with a 6-foot guide bar on the Alaskan chainsaw mill.

This was a wind-blown tree near Blagdon, Bristol. The base had been badly effected by the parasitic fungus Perennipori Fraxinea and was mostly rotted out.

To see more videos, please go and have a look at my YouTube channel: 

Jim Sharples Furniture on YouTube

English copper beech tree on the Wood-Mizer

A copper beech tree was being felled just up the road from the workshop and the tree surgeon, Ben Swift, wanted to save some from the firewood pile. In a skills exchange I have milled the timber with Rohan Scadding, it will be dried and seasoned at which point it will be ready for use in making. Ben then will be able to select a couple of boards for himself for a dining room table.

Please check out www.sawnbristol.moonfruit.co.uk for further information on my new venture into milling timber.

White display cabinet and storage

Here are some pictures of an unusual piece of furniture that I've just completed. The client, Mrs P, said that "Jim took my idea and improved upon it". She felt that this made purchasing a piece of furniture a more interesting process. 

I found it interesting to work with the material (MDF, sprayed to a matte white finish) as I normally only work in solid timbers. I am pleased with the unique contemporary design, which has received a lot of positive feedback - both in the workshop and once in situ.